Day-to-Day (Includes DL players close to returning)Anton Volchenkov (D) New Jersey – (Head) Seems to have been day-to-day for weeks now, could play FridaySemyon Varlamov (G) Washington – (Groin) Still has yet to practice, a return next week would be the best-case scenarioTom Poti (D) Washington – (Lower body) Will not play this weekendRyan Miller (G) Buffalo – (Lower body) Considered day-to-day, but will not play FridayJoni Pitkanen (D) Carolina – (Upper body) Will not play Friday, could be out longerChuck Kobasew (W) Minnesota – (Groin) Missed practice Thursday, will be a game-time decision for FridayMarek Zidlicky (D) Minnesota – (Lower body) Suffered the injury Tuesday, unlikely to play FridayAntti Miettinen (W) Minnesota – (Head) Has a concussion which means he could be out days, weeks or monthsDaymond Langkow (C) Calgary – (Neck) Experienced numbness below the waist, out indefinitelySidney Crosby (C) Pittsburgh – (Knuckles) Expected to play Friday

Long Term or IRMarian Gaborik (W) Rangers - (Shoulder) Has begun skating with the team and should return to the lineup at some point next weekChris Drury (W) Rangers – (Finger) Not expected back until the end of NovemberVaclav Prospal (W) Rangers – (Knee) Nothing set in stone, but early December would be a good guess for his returnZach Parise (W) New Jersey – (Knee) Surgery earlier this week, out three monthsBrian Rolston (C) New Jersey - (Hernia) Skating again, should return in mid to late NovemberMarco Sturm (W) Boston – (Knee) Had a setback due to fluid in the knee, could return in late NovemberMarc Savard (C) Boston – (Head) Unknown timetable due to his concussionAles Kotalik (W) Calgary (Knee) Still has yet to begin skatingGuillaume Latendresse (W) Minnesota - (Groin) Placed on the injured list Wednesday, definitely out for this weekend’s games, no update after thatPierre-Marc Bouchard (D) Minnesota - (Concussion) Has returned to practice, should begin a rehab stint shortlyJosh Harding (G) Minnesota – (Knee) Out until at least early next yearBrian Rafalski (D) Detroit - (Knee) Not expected to return until November 11Jordan Staal (C) Pittsburgh - (Hand) Broke his hand on Monday, out approximately 4-6 weeksMatt Beleskey (W) Anaheim - (Concussion) Symptoms returned before the game Wednesday, out indefinitelyJoffrey Lupul (W) Anaheim - (Back) Best-case scenario is a return to action around the end of the month

Raffi Torres (W) Vancouver – Torres must have felt great earlier this week when he scored a hat trick against the Oilers, his former team. Question is, can he keep up the goal-scoring pace he is on (seven goals in 12 games)? Probably not, but if you’re looking to grab a player in a deep league that has some upside, Torres could be your guy.

Mathieu Garon (G) Columbus – That’s back-to-back shutouts for Garon. Steve Mason owners should be worried as Garon may eat into more and more of Mason’s playing time. It’s not like the Blue Jackets can afford to wait and hope Mason regains his Calder Trophy form. They need to win games now and have little choice but to go with the hot goaltender.

Cold

Jiri Hudler (W) Detroit – Before the draft Hudler was on quite a few “sleeper lists,” mine included, but after only tallying three assists in eight games, the Red Wings have benched him for the last two games. Not a good sign of things to come, and certainly not a sign that he will be promoted to a top-six forward position.

Rick DiPietro (G) Islanders – Not that he was anyone’s idea of a top goalie heading into the season, but he has looked nothing short of terrible through the first month. He is sporting a GAA of 4.21 and a SV% of 85.4. At this rate the Islanders would be better off putting a garbage can in net and playing with six skaters.

Recommended Pickup

Claude Giroux (W) Philadelphia – When thinking of the Flyers offense the names Jeff Carter, Daniel Briere and Mike Richards come to mind. Don’t forget about Claude Giroux, who has four goals and five assists in his last five games and is well on his way to eclipsing the 16 goals he scored last season. He’s certainly a player who may be flying under the radar in your league.